Former hooker James Parsons has picked out a Springbok and an All Black as his star performers in the recent Nations Championship.<\/p>\n
The 39-year-old hailed the efforts of forwards Cobus Wiese and Luke Jacobson for their displays in the mid-year Tests.<\/p>\n
Both perhaps went slightly under the radar with the likes of Pieter-Steph du Toit, Paul de Villiers, Damian Willemse and Cobus\u2019 brother, Jasper, earning the biggest plaudits while in action for South Africa<\/a>.<\/p>\n As for Jacobson, there was a bit more chatter around the openside flanker given that he was a surprise All Blacks<\/a> selection by Dave Rennie but, once the games started, Jordie Barrett, Cam Roigard and record-breaker Will Jordan got the most praise.<\/p>\n Shock All Blacks pick \u2018rises to the challenge\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cTo me, it\u2019s the other Wiese. Cobus Wiese is like a gazelle, he\u2019s an athlete and then a brute. You sort of think Eben Etzebeth and go, \u2018where\u2019s that guy?\u2019 This guy is the guy,\u201d Parsons said on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I go to the All Blacks, it\u2019s probably Luke Jacobson; he has just risen to that challenge.<\/p>\n \u201cI could probably go [Asafo] Aumua off the back of the Ireland game but I just think in terms of the three games.<\/p>\n \u201cI expected Ruben Love, I expected Jordie Barrett, I expected Damian McKenzie, Will Jordan, I didn\u2019t predict the loose forward trio \u2013 even the six in the squad \u2013 and Luke Jacobson has just been Superman.\u201d<\/p>\n Young flanker De Villiers, who made his Test debut against England and played in all three Nations Championship games in July, was then suggested by the show\u2019s hosts.<\/p>\n \u201cVery good around the breakdown,\u201d ex-Maori All Blacks scrum-half Bryn Hall, who joined Parsons on the podcast, said.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, when it comes to that loose forward trio with that kind of build they\u2019ve been able to do that and it\u2019s another one, they just come through the factory.\u201d<\/p>\n